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CVE-2021-20228: A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine 2.9.18, where sensitive info is not masked by default and is not protec

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This month
HIGH 7.5REMOTEWATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2021-20228 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting ansible engine, ansible automation platform, ansible tower. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine 2.9.18, where sensitive info is not masked by default and is not protected by the no_log feature when using the sub-option feature of the basic.py module. This flaw allows an attacker to obtain sensitive information. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality.

Why this priority

  • High severity
  • Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
  • On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score7.5 (High)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionNone
EPSS exploit chance2.1% (top 19%)
CISA exploited listNo
WeaknessCWE-200
Published2021-04-29
Last modified2026-06-17
Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: debian · redhat

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Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

redhat ansible engine DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2.9.18 · 2.0 · 2.9
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy ansible-engine || rpm -q ansible-engine || ansible-engine --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison ansible-engine sudo apt install ansible-engine=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold ansible-engine
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list ansible-engine sudo dnf downgrade ansible-engine-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add ansible-engine
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
redhat ansible automation platform DOWNGRADE
Affected: 1.2
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.2
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy ansible-automation-platform || rpm -q ansible-automation-platform || ansible-automation-platform --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison ansible-automation-platform sudo apt install ansible-automation-platform=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2> sudo apt-mark hold ansible-automation-platform
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list ansible-automation-platform sudo dnf downgrade ansible-automation-platform-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2> sudo dnf versionlock add ansible-automation-platform
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
redhat ansible tower DOWNGRADE
Affected: 3.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy ansible-tower || rpm -q ansible-tower || ansible-tower --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison ansible-tower sudo apt install ansible-tower=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0> sudo apt-mark hold ansible-tower
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list ansible-tower sudo dnf downgrade ansible-tower-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0> sudo dnf versionlock add ansible-tower
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
debian debian linux MITIGATE
Affected: 10.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.0
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2021-20228?

ansible engine: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; ansible automation platform: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; ansible tower: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-20228 being exploited?

CVE-2021-20228 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2021-20228 affect?

CVE-2021-20228 affects ansible engine, ansible automation platform, ansible tower. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). A flaw was found in the Ansible Engine 2.9.18, where sensitive info is not masked by default and is not protected by the no_log feature when using the sub-option feature of the basic.py module. This flaw allows an attacker to obtain sensiti

How urgent is CVE-2021-20228?

Priority 57/100. High severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ansible vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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